Free Audio Books for Educators - A great way to read while doing other things

I know there are many resources for educators and students alike these days and many ways to consume media. So, when I come across resousces that can be of benefit I like to post up about them.

I wanted to pass this on on because audio books are a great and easy way to get through books. I have found that this is mainly due to the fact that you can do something at the same time and today, it seems hardly anyone has time to do just one task. So, driving to work while listening to an audio book on your iPod is a great way to learn while still being task oriented.

Personally, I pay for and download audio books on iTunes, then put them on my iPhone. That way, I always have them at the ready. However you download and listen to your audio is of course up to you but try this free resource:

LearnOutLoud.com has a library of free audio books. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Free-Audio-Video

Here is another resource: www.AudioBooksForFree.com has a good selection as well.

This is just one of those times where the internet brings us what we are used to paying for for free. Do you get the newest release and the New York Times bestseller for free? Probably not. But you will find something interesting to listen to when you want a break from your media routine.

Plus in the time it took me to read one physical book I was able to listen to three. It's incredible and I recommend giving it a try. It's improved my reading :)

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If you enjoyed my post, please leave a comment. Also, I can be reached easily via twitter - twitter.com/BelieveKids - We host elementary school fundraisers nationwide.

Elementary School Fundraising - New and Unique Fundraising Ideas

So, you are a PTA, PTO, PTSA, PTCO member at your elementary school. You hear from a parent that they are tired of the same old fundraisers. It sparks the need for the school to look for something totally new and unique and then donations drop. Your left holding the bag on a loser fundraiser and wondering what happened. Sound familiar?

For many groups across the nation, this scenario plays out.

Take for example a school in Michigan. They posted to a PTO blog that they just tried a home delivery of cookie dough through a school fundraising company they couldn't remember the name of (yikes, bad sign). This was their main fall fundraiser. Customers purchased a coupon that they redeemed online for frozen cookie dough to be delivered to shipped to their home. They reported that they maybe made $400 on their main fall fundraiser. Now they have to make up that money at their spring carnival somehow. The program sounds simple enough. so, what happened?

The fact is that normal works.

People want what's expected and frankly, new and unique just doesn't fit in with what is normal and expected. That's not to say that traditional fundraising is boring. It's just that a traditional sale has confidence with the public. The consumer is comfortable and used to it. The customer base at this Michigan school wasn't comfortable so they didn't buy.

Here are a few thoughts on what works and what doesn't:

Fall gift fundraising catalogs, traditional cookie dough fundraisers and well-promoted event fundraisers remain the top performing fundraisers - by a long shot. There is some comfort in purchasing from something with a history. Surprisingly, chocolate bar fundraisers hold their ground as a good alternative to these offerings if a school needs to keep things fresh.

Thoughts on the unique and fundraising

It's not hard to imagine that the juicy orange at the supermarket is a good purchase. But how about that Tangelo? Yes, it's a kind of hybrid between a tangerine and a grapefruit. They are amazing tasting because they have hardly any pulp and a lot of juice but oranges are many times more popular. If it's got more juice then why doesn't it sell as well? Yep. It's unique.

As much as people like to think they want new and unique, they don't. Avante Garde music is not popular because it brakes convention and is characterized as ahead of it's time. It's so unique in fact, that your typical listener can't stand it - not even for a few minutes.

As for things that are new, let someone else pay for the newest best technology. It's OK to be second - let the price come down and the bugs get worked out. You'll find that that's exactly when everyone else wants it too!

When it comes to school fundraising sometimes it's best not to be the hybrid, the avante garde or the first to market with something new.